Heartprints

Making The Bible Real!

We make plans to take our children to Sunday School and church because we want them to learn about Christ. Taking children is one thing but going with them is another. Children and adults need to share in this experience so that they become familiar with the Bible, not just as a book but as stories God has for us to learn about Him. It takes work to not just read about the people and places in the Bible but to make them come alive. People long ago had the same needs as your toddler and your grade-school child and your teen have today.

My third graders studied the geography of Israel one year and as a culmination project made salt maps. Now they could feel, see and experience Israel. We had learned about the mountains, rivers, valleys, and cities of Israel. But reading about it in print was far different than making the map where they could pinpoint Mt. Hermon and the Dead Sea. Along our year’s journey, we also studied the lives of the men/women who lived there. This year we studied the book of Acts and using the Bible Project drama posters and videos they could follow the sequence of events. In the end they could share who Stephen, Peter, and Paul were. Imagine the excitement as they rehearsed the events sequentially and recalled the events that led to Paul’s transformation from persecutor to preacher.

Take time to acquaint your children with personages such as Ezekiel, Daniel, Miriam, Moses, and others. No book is too hard if you allow the children to read with you, ask questions and them let them process the information. Was Ezekiel a real man? Did he really lay on his side for over a year? Let the scripture speak for itself.

This past week Patheos had an article titled “7 Essential Questions to Ask When you Study the Bible.” These questions are good stepping off points for children as you discuss the Bible Stories. Follow their guidelines to help you with your children.

Coordinator of the Heartprints Blog Page: Gaye-Ellen Austin or SonShine has a passion to train people to be successful Bible students, following the words of Paul to his protégé Timothy: “ entrust to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.” (2 Tim 2:2). She taught 15 years in public schools and 12 years in a Christian school where she was coordinator of the NILD program for learning disabled students. She has taught Precept upon Precept classes and was a discussion group leader for 10+ yrs. in BSF in Daytona Beach. Fl. and Atlanta, GA. Also, Gaye-Ellen is the writer for the https://www.facebook.com/bible.org/ She also has her own personal blog page: https://sonshinesjournal.com/ David is a full time director for Bible.org as well as his secular job. He and Gaye-Ellen along with their son, Dr. Mark Austin, daughter-in-law, Dr. Blanca Austin and granddaughter Christina (https://christinaaustinlopez.com.) live in the Dallas area. Gaye-Ellen's goal is to present Christ and live Christ glorifying God. One of her favorite verses about the role as parents, teachers, and adults for the next generation comes from Psalm 78:4, "but tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord."

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